greypoint
Well-known member
There are several interesting threads on here regarding the use of/what to buy etc., of long telephotos. I've never used more than a 400mm and was planning to look out for a used 170-500mm Sigma or similar to use this summer. To get an idea of the range I added my 2x converter to my 70-300mm and set it at 250mm - rubbish results but it gives a good idea of what you get in the frame. I'm now not so sure if it's worth spending the money. I add the tcon to my 80-200mm f2.8 to get the equivalent of a 160-400mm and still have the same sort of maximum aperture I'd get with the Sigma lens. It's a pretty good compromise but much more likely to suffer a touch of purple fringing than the APO Sigma. I've found the same with my Tamron 28-300mm - excellent in every way except sunlight on splashing water - so it's a case of hanging on to my Sigma 70-300mm for swan action!
So should i stop worrying about that extra 100mm - perhaps get another of the excellent 135-400mm lenses I used last year on the grounds they're so easy and lightweight [in comparison to my 80-200mm] and free of CA? Or should I hang on to my money - is a 135-400 really that much better than a 70-300 when the truth is, to get decent large shots of small birds you've either got to be very close or digiscope!
I'm sure Nikon will come out with a budget version of the D200 to replace the D50 at some point and I'd definitely want one of those! So is it really worth spending several hundred for that extra 100mm??
So should i stop worrying about that extra 100mm - perhaps get another of the excellent 135-400mm lenses I used last year on the grounds they're so easy and lightweight [in comparison to my 80-200mm] and free of CA? Or should I hang on to my money - is a 135-400 really that much better than a 70-300 when the truth is, to get decent large shots of small birds you've either got to be very close or digiscope!
I'm sure Nikon will come out with a budget version of the D200 to replace the D50 at some point and I'd definitely want one of those! So is it really worth spending several hundred for that extra 100mm??